Fan Fiction ❯ Destinys Call ❯ Standing Watch ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter Four: Standing Watch



Kasumis' eyes opened slowly as she reached her destination, her feet touching down lightly on the familiar ground. The moon now cast an almost other worldly glow on her surroundings the last of twilight having finally faded. Other than the distant sound of the nearby stream all of nature seemed to holding its breath at her returned precence here. Fireflies flitted about in the air as she began to make her way through the fallen leaves tword the small clearing that held the stream. The moonlight on the water coming into veiw shone with a silvery light. She had only looked back once as she had left the place she'd called home all of her life to do what she'd felt was right, the scene before her had been very simular to the one she had seen then.

Despite herself Kasumi had to fight the memories of this place that threatened to take her from her task. She could remember days before her life had changed when she had come here to think or to be alone. Sometimes she had come simply to enjoy the beauty of nature. It was far too dangerous for her to be here now but there was no choice. This was the only place where she could find what she needed. Reaching the small stream she knelt, her knees resting on the warm earth she allowed her fingers to slip through the crystaline water a moment. It felt cool against them ,cleansing she could remember wading as a child in this small stream with Ayane. She smiled a soft smile at the memory she could see it even now in her mind, thier pants rolled up to thier knees as they kicked and splashed....

Kasumi shook her head forcing herself to return to the task at hand. She surveyed the shore of the small stream and saw what she had come for. The small greenish purple flowers she had loved as a child also had the ability ,when ground into a fine powder, to ward off infection and numb pain. It couldn't cure the poison that she'd given Ryu but at the very least it would make it more bareable untill it faded. She rose to her feet quickly then walking to where the small blooms grew she kneeled grasping several of them and pulling sharply, being sure to get the entire plant to come up.

The stark cry of a bird startled her somewhat drawing her attention upward. The moon was now high in the sky overhead. She had no way of knowing how long she had been gone but she knew she had to return. She rose from her position , grasping the small plants tightly she closed her eyes and this time when she left this place she didn't even look back once as she disappeared from veiw.......

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The orange light from the latern cast a soft glow over Kasumi upon her return she was somewhat surprised it hadn't burned out in her absence. Walking first to the small ring of stones that had been used to make the pit for the fire Kasumi leaned to loosen one of the more sizable rocks from its place, taking it with her she then returned to her place at Ryus side her legs brushing the cool floor of the cave as she sat. Placing the stone and flowers at her side she focused her attention first at the area of the wound. It seemed to be continuing to redden and it looked more inflamed than before.

Slightly hesitant she wrapped her hand around the hilt of her small blade she couldn't help but close her eyes tight as she pulled feeling the slight resistance it gave as it came free of its place in his leg. After a few short moments she forced her eyes open the wound wasn't quite as deep as it had appeared to be but she knew it would take time to heal and leave a lasting scar. She placed her hand on the area a moment finding it feeling fevered. It was then that she turned her attention to his face, it was turned to the side so she leaned foreward using her hands to cup his jaw and turn it slightly. His expression was somewhat less pained than before but no where near relaxed. She rested his head back on the folded blanket, taking her hands and moving them to remove the bandanna from his forehead the rose holding the cloth in her hand, moving tword the opening of the cave where the water fell, she began setting upon what she needed to do...

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Kasumi had no way of knowing how long she had sat just keeping watch. The moon was still high in the night sky the still of night yet undisturbed. Ryus' facial features had relaxed and sweat was running once more in small rivlets from beneath his hairline a sign that his fever was trying to break. She dipped the bandanna she had removed from his forehead in the small bowl she had filled with water at her side. She leaned foreward using it to wipe some of the sweat away before using her hand to brush away some of the sweat matted strands of hair from his face. She allowed her hand to remain there a moment before her fingers moved to lightly brush over his cheek. More than anything it hurt her to have brought pain to someone she cared deeply about. She felt her heart twist once more as her mind reminded her of how she'd come to be in this situation. Her eyes traveled over his face again as she found a question rising in her mind.

She found herself wondering again how long it would be before he regained conciousness,she had heard of this particular poison taking up to tweleve hours to leave ones system.. He had been in and out of it several times for short moments since she had given him the medicene she had made from the small flowers. The last time he had startled her by his hand reaching forward with starling speed to grasp hers that had been wiping some of the sweat from his forehead, his eyes had been open but unfocused it had hurt her deeply to see his green eyes clouded with such confusion, as he squeezed her hand far too tightly. It had felt as if the bones in her fingers had been rubbing together. She had been able to see the tips of her fingers turning red then white....and then it had ended as fast as it had begun his face becoming more relaxed than she had seen it since the poison had begun its course. Out of the several words he murmured as his face relaxed she had only barely been able to make out her name......

Ryu hadn't moved again since and despite her determination to remain alert she found her eyes becoming heavy the soft sound of the waterfall overhead and the overwhelming exhaustion she hadn't known was present taking its toll. Picking up a blanket at her side Kasumi drew it over herself tightly leaning forward she lay down a moment her head resting on the edge of the mat nearby, though the same unawnsered questions that had been fighting for her attention since this began rose up again she pushed them back once more .... she could allow herself to rest just a few moments..........







I know I know not much of a cliffhanger this time but trust me things will be getting better from here ^_~ I am sorry though if this chapter was too boring it was just something I had to put in. to tie up some stuff. I had it written differently before but word errored and I had to start over from scratch >.<! I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far! Iv'e got plenty more ideas where this one came from ^_^

Other than that I don't own these characters so please don't sue me. Questions? Comments? Creative Death threats? Send them to me at teesa57@hotmail.com Please read and review!!!!!